Hello from Derbyshire (at present lake Maggiore )

DougieK&G2022 · Sep 17, 2022

Thought we better say hello.
We have had our Ocean 6.1 since April and have been following the forum a while before that. We have hired previously but have this year made the jump.
Thank you for all the advice it has been so encouraging seeing where everyone has been and tips to make our trip easier.

It is our 30th wedding anniversary this year so we decided to go and have a look at the Italian lakes. We are having a great time and we will report back on campsites and routes when we get a minute lol.
Gary

couplands · Sep 17, 2022

Welcome from a fellow Peak District resident.

I bet the lakes are lovely, we've just come back from Geneva (visiting our daughter) and the weather and the scenery has been stunning, further south you must have had fabulous scenery and weather.

Might see you around..;-)

Hawthorn37 · Sep 17, 2022

Hi there - from another Derbyshire campervanner!

As you’re in Italy right now, you might be in a good place to answer some questions coming up on this thread ?

Advise on trip to Italy next year (2023)

Our Son is getting married in Italy (bank of Mum and Dad is closing after this one) next year and we want to take our time to travel down there with our Cali Ocean. Ideally if someone has done something similar and can share their knowledge / experience that would be much appreciated...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

DougieK&G2022 · Sep 19, 2022

couplands said:
Welcome from a fellow Peak District resident.

I bet the lakes are lovely, we've just come back from Geneva (visiting our daughter) and the weather and the scenery has been stunning, further south you must have had fabulous scenery and weather.

Might see you around..;-)

Hi
Yes having a great time the weather has been great Down on the lakes
We came via Switzerland and there are great views everywhere you look.

Thank you for the welcome

DougieK&G2022 · Sep 19, 2022

Hawthorn37 said:
Hi there - from another Derbyshire campervanner!

As you’re in Italy right now, you might be in a good place to answer some questions coming up on this thread ?

Advise on trip to Italy next year (2023)

Our Son is getting married in Italy (bank of Mum and Dad is closing after this one) next year and we want to take our time to travel down there with our Cali Ocean. Ideally if someone has done something similar and can share their knowledge / experience that would be much appreciated...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Hi Mike,
Exciting time planning for a wedding trip to Italy

We travelled down through France and then Switzerland which was easy and beautiful scenery. We then stayed at Lake Orta then on to Lake Garda with a final stop at lake Maggiore. The campsites for Italy are below.
Camping Orta - The campsite is Ok but 2 nights was enough as they pack you in. The lake is great and the walk to Orta is nice and a lovely place to visit.
Lake Garda camping weekend at Salo - Great campsite you can choose a pitch with your own toilet and shower on It. Salo is nice and you can get ferries to all places on the lake. The down side is that it’s a quite steep hill.
Maggiore - camping Lido Verbano stayEd 1 night not a great campsite, nice pitch by the lake but a lot of statics.

I think one of the main things we learnt was the bottom end of all the lakes are quite built up and commercialised. I presume this is because of how close Milan is.

Tolls we just paid cash or card and it was fine.

We are now at Lake Annecy and came through the tunnel which was no problem and it was a Sunday.
I think Sundays are good for travelling on as no wagons are allowed?
hope that helps

Mattsv · Sep 19, 2022

We stayed for 6 nights at Camping Smeraldo on Maggiore this June. Lots of statics here too with probably only 20 touring pitches, but right on the Lake. Statics were empty during the week, with the site a bit busier at the weekend. Everyone very friendly with a good restaurant and bar - would definitely go back there.